Senior Financial Analyst (18 month FTC)
Posted 3 days ago by Ivy Rock Partners
£65,000 Per year
Fixed-Term
Hybrid
London Area, United Kingdom
Summary: The Senior Finance Analyst role at a leading London-based higher education institution involves providing high-quality financial planning and analysis to support strategic and operational decision-making. This 18-month fixed-term contract position requires collaboration with senior stakeholders to enhance financial performance and data integrity. The successful candidate will play a key role in financial management within a vibrant and innovative environment. Strong analytical skills and experience in financial reporting are essential for this position.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and deliver financial planning, forecasting, and analysis to inform strategic and operational decisions
- Prepare and present management accounts, variance analysis, and financial performance reports
- Develop and maintain robust financial models, performing scenario and sensitivity analysis
- Work confidently with large and complex data sets, ensuring accuracy, insight, and compliance
- Contribute to statutory accounts preparation and external reporting, ensuring accuracy and adherence to accounting standards
- Support cashflow forecasting, business planning, and audit preparation
- Partner with colleagues across Finance and senior leadership to strengthen financial processes and insight
- Play an active role in finance transformation projects, including chart of accounts redesign and data model development
Key Skills:
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- Significant experience in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) or senior analytical roles
- Proven ability to manage and interpret large, complex data sets
- Strong understanding of statutory accounts and financial reporting requirements
- Strong analytical experience
- Excellent Excel and financial modelling skills
- Confident presenting complex financial information clearly to non-financial audiences
- Desirable: Experience within higher education, public sector, or large multi-entity organisations
- Desirable: Involvement in finance data or systems transformation projects
Salary (Rate): £65,000.00 yearly
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: fixed-term
Seniority Level: Senior
Industry: Finance
Ivy Rock Partners are delighted to be supporting a leading London-based higher education institution recognised globally for its creativity, inclusivity, and academic excellence. The organisation combines world-class teaching and research with a vibrant, collaborative culture, making it an exceptional place to work and develop your skillset.
The opportunity
We are seeking a Senior Finance Analyst to join the central finance team on a fixed-term contract of 18 months. This role sits at the heart of the organisation’s financial planning and analysis function, providing high-quality insight to support strategic and operational decision-making. The position offers an excellent opportunity to play a key role in the financial management of a complex and innovative institution, working with senior stakeholders to enhance performance, data integrity, and financial understanding.
Key responsibilities
- Lead and deliver financial planning, forecasting, and analysis to inform strategic and operational decisions
- Prepare and present management accounts, variance analysis, and financial performance reports
- Develop and maintain robust financial models, performing scenario and sensitivity analysis
- Work confidently with large and complex data sets, ensuring accuracy, insight, and compliance
- Contribute to statutory accounts preparation and external reporting, ensuring accuracy and adherence to accounting standards
- Support cashflow forecasting, business planning, and audit preparation
- Partner with colleagues across Finance and senior leadership to strengthen financial processes and insight
- Play an active role in finance transformation projects, including chart of accounts redesign and data model development
About you
You will be a skilled finance professional who combines strong analytical expertise with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Essential experience / qualifications:
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- Significant experience in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) or senior analytical roles
- Proven ability to manage and interpret large, complex data sets
- Strong understanding of statutory accounts and financial reporting requirements
- Strong analytical experience
- Excellent Excel and financial modelling skills
- Confident presenting complex financial information clearly to non-financial audiences
Desirable experience:
- Experience within higher education, public sector, or large multi-entity organisations
- Involvement in finance data or systems transformation projects
Benefits
- Generous annual leave (34 days excluding bank holidays) plus 2 days’ paid volunteering leave.
- Discounted medical insurance and eye care benefits.
- Pension scheme with competitive employer contribution (e.g., LGPS) for eligible staff.
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (flexible hours and dynamic working policy).
- Discounts and interest-free loans for travel, tech purchases, lifestyle brands, gym/fitness centre access, nursery fees and more
- Defined LGPS pension scheme
- Staff development support
For a confidential conversation about the role please get in touch with Megan Hunter